Insistent NY Mets rumors of Kyle Schwarber interest is bad for more than Pete Alonso

Reported New York Mets rumors of their interest in Kyle Schwarber isn’t anything new. On day one of the MLB Winter Meetings, all Mike Puma merely did was assure us they haven’t dropped out yet. The left-handed slugger is believed to be one of the players whose future is holding up the rest of the market.

Certainly a big target for several teams, it’s fascinating to see him draw as much love as a free agent as he has in comparison to Pete Alonso. For whatever reason, teams desire his big left-handed bat and zero offense versus what Alonso can bring from the right side of the plate with innings at first base. We can conclude it might have a little to do with representation, Alonso by Scott Boras and Schwarber by anyone else.

It’s not necessarily good news for Alonso to see Mets rumors about their interest in Schwarber. Worse is what it means for Mark Vientos. If the Mets have any serious thought of signing Schwarber, Vientos is far less useful.

Insistent Mets rumors about their interest in Kyle Schwarber probably puts Mark Vientos on the trade block

Vientos doesn’t serve much of a purpose as a part-time player. Could he move to first base? Sure. It just kind of goes against the preaching of run prevention. He has played first base sparingly in his professional career. The Mets tried to make it work at third base to no avail. Moving him over to first base as an Alonso replacement is one way to handle things, but lacks fulfillment of the mission to improve defense all across the infield.

Under both regimes he has played, Vientos has been a bit of an afterthought. He has had to play his way into the lineup, giving the Mets no choice but to play him regularly with his thunderous 2024 performance. Unfortunately, a sophomore slump-like campaign followed in 2025. Now passed on the depth chart by Brett Baty, the best place for Vientos to land is at the DH spot for the foreseeable future. Possible still, it’s negated with a Schwarber signing and maybe even with whomever they decide to be their big power bat next season.

Day one of the MLB Winter Meetings was full of rumors for several teams. The night is young in Orlando. A few more scotches in a GM cutting loose and maybe we see a signing or a trade take place. It doesn’t seem as if the Mets will be the ones to make the big maneuver. Alonso is meeting with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles tomorrow. If you hate a snail-like MLB offseason, it’s feeling like that’s precisely what we’ll get.

Once the Schwarber signing does take place, which feels more imminent than one for Alonso, we’ll know better what’s next. Vientos, regardless of the situation, feels as good as gone if David Stearns succeeds with Plan-A.